Amusement device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1959 nited States i AMUSEMENT DEVICE Lohnl Joslyn, 459 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y.

Filed Allg. 17, `1959, Ser. No. 834,038

8 Claims. 31.46-19) This invention relates to an amusement device or toy and .is .more particularly `concerned withyan amusement device Iadapted for use by children which will permit the child to exercise his constructive talents and will at the same time safely provide an outlet for the childs natural urge` to knock down what he has. created.k So-called pounding toys of various types have been known for many years and generally consist of a board provided with a series of slidable pegs or dowels which can be struck by a mallet and will sinkrinto the board.V The board is then reversed and the procedure repeated. ASuch a toy, however, has only limited use and is generally' at,- tractive only to very small children.

. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a novel pounding toy which not only is adapted to be struck butk which-also provides a challenge to the childs constructive talents.

It is another `object vof the present invention to provide a pounding toy of the character indicated which will be found amusing to children over a long age range.

`In accordance with the invention, there is provided a toy which comprises at least two elements separably in# terconnected by frictionally-engaged connector units along a plane of juncture between the two elements, with each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of lthe other element to provide an enclosed inwardly-tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in the tapered aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding tothe wall surfaces of the aperture.

4When the wedge member is struck as with a mailet, it gradually causes the two elements to separate but, by reason `of the frictional engagement of the connector units, the elements tend to resist separation but will come apart with continued pounding, the two elements first separating adjacent the tapered aperture and then separating along their entire height. The two elements thus separate much in the manner of a splitting log. As a result, the child 'has the opportunity of reassembling two separated elements after he has pounded on the wedge member, and the toy thus provides a variety of play operations and is not limited to a single pounding operation. .As will be apparent as the description of the invention proceeds, an amusement device'having the structural relationships mentioned is adapted to-embody many variations which increase its complexity and more particularly adapt it for use by children of many ages.

It is a feature of the invention that the amusement device is of a type which will assist'in the motor development of the young child.

It is another feature of the invention that the amusementv device -is of a type which will assist in the development of the childs manual dexterity,

Otherobjects and features of the invention will be A readily apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an amusement device embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown in Fig. l, taken approximately along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and showing the device in closed and partially separated position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View, partially cut away to show details of construction, of another embodiment of the amusement device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational viewof the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 with the parts partially separated;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 taken approximately along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6` is a perspective: view of a portion of the devicey shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the two elements 10 and 12 which, in the embodiment illustrated, have a semi-cylindrical crosssection, adjoin each other along a plane of juncture 14 defined by their inner mating walls 16 and 17, respectively. 'I'he elements 10 and `12 are `removably interconnected by connector uni-ts 18 in the form of round dowels which are seated in aperturesV 20 and 21 in elements 10 and 12,` respectively, the: apertures extending at right angles to the plane of juncture .14. The units 18 are firmly secured, as by gluing, in apertures 20 but are removably received with a friction tit in apertures 21. vElement 1t) is formed with two recesses each having a wall 23 tapering inwardlytoward wall 16 and element 12 is similarly formed with two recesses each ha-ving a wall 25 tapering inwardly toward wall 17. Each recess in element 15G lis aligned with a recess in element 12. so that the pairs of mating recesses. define apertures lhaving inwardly tapering walls, as shown in the drawings, adapted -to receivc wedge members 28.

Each wedge member 28 lis of a generally rectangular cross, section and has an upper planar surface adapted to be struck by a. mallet 30, or the like, and its lower portion is tapered to correspond to the shape of the aperture defined between theelements 10 and 12 as shown in the drawings, i .e. thel wedge member 2S has surfaces 32 which have the same taper as thecooperating walls 23 and25.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the

elements 1@ and 12 are, as mentioned, semi-cylindrical v in form so that. when they `are interconnected by the dowels 18, they form a cylinder which may suitably bey surfaced to resemble av log or the like. Thus, when the wedge members 2S are struck and driven toward the center of the cylinder defined by elements 10 and 12, the elements 10 and 12. are separated in the manner of a splitting log but by reason of the presence of the dowels 18 and the frictional engagement with the -walls of apertures '21, continued pounding upon the vwedge members 2S is required to elfect complete separation since the separationis. frictionally resisted by the dowels. Thus,-

the embodiment of Figs. l and V2 may be described asa rail splitting toy which diers from conventional pound limited to a device in which the separableelements are4 of,

semi-cylindrical configuration although the structure above-described is of a particular desirable construction and the separable elements may have one or more planar surfaces and additional separable elements may be combined to provide an assembly of more than two separable elements corresponding tothe elements and 12 of Figs. 1 and '2.. Similarly, it will be understood that the wedge apertures and the wedge members receivable in the apertures are not limited tothe shapes shown in Fig. 1 and the tapering surfaces may be curved and the wedge members may have not only rectangular cross sections but may have other polygonal cross sections, e.g. they may be square, hexagonal, .pentagonaL triangular, and the like, invcross section with one or more curved sides. By way of example, there is shown in Figs. 3 to 6 another embodiment of this invention illustrating these relationships.v Referring to Fig. 3, the amusement device illustrated is composed of an assembly of four elements 40, 41, 42 and 43 which, in the form shown, have a substantially square cross section.v The elements 42 and 43 define a tirst pair interconnected by connector units 45 each rigidly seated in an aperture 46 in element 42 and slidably received with a friction tit in an aperture 48 in the element 43. Similarly, the elements 40 and 41 form a second pair interconnected by connector units 50 each rigidly seated in an aperture 52 in element 40 and slidably received with a friction iit in an aperture 54 in the element 41. In turn the two pairs of elements are interconnected by connector units 56 each rigidly seated in an aperture 58 in element 41 and slidably received with a friction t in an aperture 60 in the element 43.

This assembly is adapted to be separated by wedge action into two parts, each consisting of one of the pairs of elements and each pair of elements is adapted when thus separated to be separated into its component elements in accordance with the principles of the invention described above. Thus, the two pairs of elements meet along a plane of juncture 62 and adjacent this plane the elements 40 and 42 are formed with mating recesses having inwardly sloping walls 64 and 65, respectively, each pair of recesses cooperating to dene a wedge aperture adapted to receive a wedge member. The wedgerecesses may all be of the same size and shape and, therefore, adapted to receive identical wedges but preferably the wedge apertures are of different sizes and shapes so that each wedge recess requires a specific wedge member for use in it. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the left-hand wedge recess is of generally rectangular form and the wedge member 68 which is received in it similarly has a rectangular cross section with its long dimension parallel to the plane of juncture, its lower portion having sloped walls corresponding in taper to the walls 64 and 65. 'Ihe central wedge aperture, however, has tapering walls 70 and 71 which not only taper inwardly toward the plane of juncture but are also curved and the wedge member 73 similarly has planar and curved walls and its lower tapering portion corresponds to the taper and form of the walls 70 and 7.1. The right-hand Wedge aperture is similar to the left-hand wedge aperture except that it is square in cross section with tapering walls 74 and 75 Vand the wedge member 76 is similarly of square cross section. The advantage of the dierently formed Wedge apertures and wedge members is the fact that they enhance the variety of play. activities by requiring the child to select the proper wedge member for each wedge aperture and the enjoyment of the toy is thus increased.

To separate the :two elements forming each pair of elements, i.e. to separate the elements 40 and 4 1 and to separate the elements 42 and 43, there are also provided appropriate wedge apertures adapted to receive correspondingly shaped wedge members. It will be seen, however, that one pair of elements has its wedge aperture on the exterior of the assembly whereas vthe other pair of elements has the wedge aperture on the interior of the assembly Thus, the pair composed of elements 42 and 43 which hasvthe aperture 60 in which the connector units 56 are slidably received has its wedge aperture 77 on its exterior face adapted to receive wedge member 78. The pair formed from elements 40 and 41, however, which has the connector units 56 xedly secured to it and extending from its inner surface, is formed with a wedge aperture having tapered walls and 81 on its interior surface when considered in terms of the entire assembly of four elements. While the pair consisting of elements 42 and 43 and the pair consisting of elements 40 and 41 are shown with a single wedge aperture, it will be apparent that they may also be provided with a plurality of wedge apertures and that the wedge apertures may be of the same shape or may be of different shapes which may be the same or dierent from the shapes of the apertures in the top surface of the assembly. Advantageously, however, the wedge apertures in the two pairs will have the same shape of at least one of the wedge apertures ih the top surface.

In using the assembly of Figs. 3 to 6, the wedge members 68, 73 and 76 are rst inserted in the wedge apertures defined by the walls 64-65, 70--71 and 74-75 and by use of a mallet or other pounding means applied to the top surfaces of the wedge members 68, 73 and 76, the two pairs of elements can be separated. The pair consisting of elements 42 and 43 may then be separated by turning the pair with its inner surface downwardly and applying pounding pressure to the wedge element 78 -in the wedge aperture 77. Similarly, the pair consisting of the elements 40 and 41 can be separated by turning this pair with its outer surface downwardly and pounding a wedge in the wedge aperture defined by the walls 80 and 81.

This latter aperture may be shaped to receive the wedge 78 or one of the wedges 68, 73 and 76. Similarly, the wedge 78 may be dispensed with and the wedge aperture may be shaped to receive one of the wedges 68, 73 and 76.

There is -thus provided an amusement device which provides a wide variety of play activities which not only provides lan outlet 'for a childs normal urge to pound but which also permits the child to exercise his construetive talents and challenges his perception and teaches him differences between shapes and serves to improve his ability to match differently-shaped objects with differently-shaped apertures. In the aforegoing embodiments, the invention has been illustrated in relation to separable elements which form a solid construction. It will be apparent, however, that the elements may be formed to dene a hollow construction, i.e. a construction having `a cavity which becomes visible when the elements are separated. Referring to Fig. 7, for example, there is shown an embodiment of the amusement device of the invention in which the separable elements and 86 are shaped to simulate a house with connector units 88 being rigidly secured in apertures 89 in the element 85 and slidably received with a friction t in apertures 90 in element 86. The element 85 is formed with an interior cavity 92 and the element 86 is similarly formed with a mating interior cavity 93 which may be left empty or which may be filled with furniture such as indicated at V94, or other small items such `as candy, favors, and the like. The elements 85 and 86 define between them a wedge cavity 95 which is adapted to receive la wedge member 96 which simulates the chimney of the house. While the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 has been illustrated as being formed from a single pair, it will be apparent that it may yalso be formed from two pairs of elements in the manner of the construction of Fig. 3 and in such a variation, it will be desirable to give the wal-lssurrounding the cavity a greater thickness to permit the formation of the necessary wedge recess or recesses.

In the course of constant and continued use, the connector units may tend to lose some of their tightness in the apertures in which they are slidably received and if it is desired to restore substantially the initial tightness, this can readily be atected by providing tightening screws as indicated at 98 in Fig. 4, the tightening screws A having their inner ends bearing against the connector units which may, if desired, be formed with longitudinal grooves as shown at 99 in` Fig. A4 to receive the screw ends. When -a connector unit becomes loose in its aperture, it is merely necessary to tighten the corresponding screw so that it extends further into the Vaperture and this will automatically restore the original frictional resistance to withdrawal of't'heV connector unit.' .It will be" understood that when such tightening screws are provided, a screw will be provided for each aperture in which a connector unit is slidably received. l

As will be noted from the embodiments shown 'in the drawings, the wedge recesses may be aligned with the connector' unit-s or they may be disposed between connector units or they may be otherwise inter-related. v It will be understood that various changes and modiiications may be made in the embodiments above described `and illustrated in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention `as defined in the appended claims. For example, the separable elements may be given exterior shapes other than those shown in the drawings and may be shaped to simulate objects other than houses or logs or blocks. Furthermore, while the device of the invention is preferably formed from wood, advantageously a hard wood, it may also be formed from other materials of construction, e.g. plastics, such as a phQol-formaldehyde resin, or other convenient materials, or combination of materials. Suitably, however, the material from which the connector units or dowels are formed has a limited flexibility, such as wood, in order that the connector units may bend slightly as the separable elements are wedged apart.

It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description `and in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the-invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An amusement device which comprises at least two element-s separably interconnected by lat least one frictionally-engaged connector unit along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided with `at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in the tapered aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces ofthe aperture.

2. An amusement device which comprises at least two elements separably interconnected by at yleast one frictionally-engaged connector unit -along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided with a plurality of tapered recesses in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in each tapered `aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the associated aperture.

3. An amusement device which comprises a first pair of two elements separably interconnected by at least one frictionally-engaged connector unit along a first plane of juncture between the two elements, `and a second pair of two elements separably interconnected by frictionallyengaged connector units along a second plane of juncture, said two pairs of elements being separately interconnected by frictionally-engaged connector units between one member of each pair along a third plane of juncture between the two pairs of elements, one element of each pair being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent said third plane of juncture, and each element of said pairs being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent one of said first and second planes of juncture, each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent one of said planes of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in at least oneof the tapered -apertures defined by -said recesses and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the aperture. l 44. An amusement device which comprises a first pair of two elements separably interconnected. by at least one fxictionally-engaged connector unit along a first plane of juncture between the two elements, and a second pair of two elements separably interconnected by frictionallyengaged connector units along a second plane of juncture, said two pairs of elemen-ts being separately interconnected by frictionally-engaged connector units between one member of each pair along a third plane of juncture between the two pairs of elements, one element of each pair being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent said third plane of juncture, and each element of said pairs being provided with at least one tapered recess vin a surface adjacent one of said first and second planes of juncture, each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent one of said planes of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in at least one of the tapered apertures defined by said recesses and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the aperture, the tapered aperture in one of said pairs of elements merging with said third plane of juncture and the aperture in the other of said pairs being on the side of said last-named pair opposite said third plane of juncture.

5. An amusement device which comprises at least two elements separably interconnected by at least one frictionally-engaged connector unit along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in the tapered aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the aperture, said connector unit being received in sockets formed in said elements, the connector unit being rigidly secured in the socket of one element and being slidably received in the socket of the adjacent element.

6. An amusement device which comprises at least two elements separably interconnected by at least one frictionally-engaged connector unit along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided wtih a plurality of tapered recesses in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in each tapered aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the associated aperture, said recesses dening tapered apertures of different shapes and the wedge member removably received in each aperture being correspondingly shaped.

7. An amusement device which comprises at least two elements separably interconnected by at least one frictionally-engaged connector unit along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wed'ge member removably received in the tapered aperture and having wall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces of the aperture, said elements each being formed with a cavity merging with said plane of juncture whereby a hollow structure is defined by the interconnected elements.

8. An amusement device which comprises at least two elements separably interconnected by at least one fric tionally-engaged connector unit along a plane of juncture between the two elements, each element being provided with at least one tapered recess in a surface adjacent the plane of juncture, the recess of one element mating with the recess of the other element to provide an enclosed inwardly tapered aperture, and a wedge member removably received in the tapered 'aperture and havingwall surfaces corresponding to the wall surfaces yof the aperture, and supporting means for removably holdl ing said separable elements while pounding force is applied to said wedge member. f

References Cited in the file of this patent g UNITED STATES PATENTS 

